---

Nissan's 1970s 240Z Named Fifth 'Greatest Sports Car of All Time'

12 October 1998

'Z' Results Are In: Nissan's 1970s 240Z Named Fifth 'Greatest Sports Car of All Time' in Online Poll

    Z Car, Porsche Carrera Tie for Highest-Rated Import Sports Car; Mr. K,
  'Father' of Z Car, to be Inducted in Automotive Hall of Fame on October 13

    CARSON, Calif., Oct. 12 -- What's your favorite sports car of
all-time?  A "Dream Machines" cyberpoll sponsored by The History Channel
Online (http://www.historychannel.com) recently posed that question, and the results
might surprise you.
    Nearly 20,000 people responded to the informal survey, which ranked
Nissan's 1970s 240Z car as the fifth greatest "Dream Machine" of all-time.
The 240Z received approximately 1,200 votes (6 percent), as did the 1970s
Porsche 911 Carrera RS.  The Z car and the Porsche Carrera were the top-rated
import sports cars.  The Z car, known as the fastest-selling sports car of
all-time, was the only Japanese sports car to make the Top 25 list.
    On a related note, Yutaka Katayama, the former Nissan Motor Corporation
USA president affectionately known in the automotive industry as "Mr. K," will
be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Mich. tomorrow at
6 p.m. (EST).  Mr. K is hailed as the "father" of the Z car, and is credited
with introducing the first compact pickup trucks in the U.S., among other
accomplishments.
    The 1960s Chevrolet Corvette StingRay was the preferred "Dream Machine" of
all-time.  It garnered approximately 3,200 votes (16 percent).  The 1960s
AC Cobra 427 earned approximately 2,800 votes, good for second place.  Ford
claimed third and fourth-place honors with its 1960s Mustang (13 percent) and
1960s GT40 (9 percent).
    The Z car went out of production in 1996, but Nissan recently unveiled a
Z concept car during its four-state Road Show in July.  The concept borrowed
from the classic 1970s 240Z design while maintaining a sleek, futuristic look.
It received high marks from media, analysts, dealers and employees.
    "The Z car helped establish Nissan as a major automotive force in America,
and we're delighted that so many people still hold it in such high regard,"
said Michael Seergy, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division.
"The results from the 'Dream Machines' cyberpoll further validate that
consumers would welcome a Z car reintroduction, which is a possibility that
Nissan is currently exploring."
    To view the full results from the "Dream Machines" cyberpoll, point your
web browser to http://www.historychannel.com/sweeps/finalresults.html.
    In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering,
manufacturing, sales, consumer and corporate financing, and industrial and
textile equipment.  Nissan in North America employs more than 20,000 people in
the United States, Canada and Mexico, and generates more than 70,000 jobs
through more than 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti dealerships across the continent.
More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan
and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissan-na.com.